Heavy flooding striking parts of Tennessee left at least 10 people dead and 40 others missing, Humphreys County Sheriff's office Chris Davis told the Tennessean Saturday.
Driving the news: Heavy rainfall was pummeling much of the state. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said dangerous flash flooding closed a major local highway near McEwen, and the National Weather Service reporting potential record rainfall near fellow Humphreys County city McEwen.
Crews from @TNHighwayPatrol are in Humphreys County helping local agencies with water rescues, aerial searches and more in wake of today’s flooding. pic.twitter.com/u0LxzIIkoz
— TN Dept. of Safety (@TNDeptofSafety) August 21, 2021
Of note: 17.02 inches of rain had fallen in McEwen from midnight to just before 10.30p.m. ET— meaning it "likely broke the all-time 24 hour rainfall record for the state," the NWS tweeted.
What else is happening: A curfew was enacted for Humphreys County in the evening, Davis said to WSMV.
- Rob Edwards, the chief deputy of the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office, told the New York Times there were "power outages all over the area" and that " loss of all cellphone coverage from the major carriers" was complicating issues.
Context: A UN IPCC report on climate science published earlier this month found that extreme precipitation events, including heavy downpours, are becoming more frequent and severe.
7:50 PM Update -
— NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) August 22, 2021
Heaviest rainfall continues to move south into our SW counties. Rainfall rates across the area have been around 2-3 additional inches.
If you are in this area, please do not go out tonight if you do not have to. Flooding is especially dangerous at night. pic.twitter.com/RrtsRh39hN
https://twitter.com/NWSNashville/status/1429244320599662592
7:50 PM Update -
— NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) August 22, 2021
Heaviest rainfall continues to move south into our SW counties. Rainfall rates across the area have been around 2-3 additional inches.
If you are in this area, please do not go out tonight if you do not have to. Flooding is especially dangerous at night. pic.twitter.com/RrtsRh39hN
7:50 PM Update -
— NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) August 22, 2021
Heaviest rainfall continues to move south into our SW counties. Rainfall rates across the area have been around 2-3 additional inches.
If you are in this area, please do not go out tonight if you do not have to. Flooding is especially dangerous at night. pic.twitter.com/RrtsRh39hN